Fiat to begin Bertone plant talks

In 2009, Fiat bought Carrozzeria Bertone SpA, the production arm of Italy's Bertone, which continues to operate independently in design and engineering.

"Negotiations for the ex-Bertone plant start tonight," Marchionne told a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, adding Fiat would seek more flexible labor rules similar to those agreed at its Mirafiori and Pomigliano plants.

In the 1970s, Bertone designed the only Ferrari model not produced by Pininfarina, the curvaceous Dino 308 GTX.

A trade union source said the planned investments for ex-Bertone were seen around 600 million euros ($810 million) and one possible option is to produce Maserati models.

The plant's 1,200-1,300 employees, laid off eight years ago, are benefiting from a state-backed salary scheme, the source said.